Local celebrants hired for key life events

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - For more than a decade, Virginia Lieberman has been making sure marriages get off to the right start.

Lieberman, who once taught public speaking, has been spending her retirement years as a humanist celebrant.

"I officiate secular, non-religious ceremonies," she told FOX 13. "I knew about humanist celebrants and I thought well this would be a fun thing to do working with couples and help them write the ceremony that is special and meaningful for them."

After getting certified, she officiated ceremonies at Disney.

"They realized there were a lot of Europeans and Canadians coming to Disney that didn't want religious ceremonies," Lieberman saod.

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She's also officiated same-sex unions.

"Every ceremony is different and personal and meaningful to the couple," Lieberman said.

And she's been there for more somber occasions.

"I officiated the ceremony for the daughter of one of my best friends who had died years before," said Lieberman.

As far as pay, she's compensated for travel and lodging, but she said she isn't in it for the money.

"I kind of look at it as a community service in providing an option that people want. Being a celebrant is something I very much enjoy doing", said Lieberman.